Container and moisture applicator



April 10, 1956 v. M. BRIDY 2,740,979

CONTAINER AND MOISTURE APPLCATOR Filed March 7, 1951 Iggy. z.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS v United States Patent C) i CONTAINER AND MOISTURE APPLICATon Victor M. Bridy, Atlas, Pa., assignor of one-half to Henry J. Bridy, Slieppton, Pa.

Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,385

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-134) This invention relates to a moisture applicator, designed primarily for use in applying moisture to envelopes, stamps or the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide a liquid container and a wick supporting tube disposed therein, the tube being so constructed and arranged that the wick which is held therein will be supported in such a way that the fluid in the container may be readily absorbed and transferred to the applicator end of the wick, by capillary attraction.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for supporting the wick of the device against being pulled from the container, during the application of the moisture on letters, stamps or other surfaces, due to the wick being moved over a glued surface which directs a pull on the wick.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an applicator of this character wherein the device may be readily disassembled to permit of removal of the wick for cleaning or replacement purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a moisture applicator, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the moisture applicator illustrating the construction of the container.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wick supporting tube of the applicator.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, the moisture applicator comprises the container 5 which is preferably of a size and construction whereby the container may be gripped in the hand of the operator to use the applicator in mostening stamps, envelopes or similar surfaces.

As shown, the container is provided with external threads that cooperate with the internal threads 6 formed on the enlarged lower end 7 of the upper tubular member 8 that has its upper reduced end 9 constructed to accommodate the wick 10 which is positioned therein in such a way as to provide a close tit between the wick and upper reduced end of the member 8, with a portion of the wick extended beyond the end of the upper reduced end 9, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The wick 10 is in the form of a roll, and has the major portion thereof fitted within the wick retainer tube 11, which is of a length to reach from the bottom of the 2,740,979 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 container 5, to the opposite end of the container, the wick retainer being provided with openings 12 elongated longitudinally of the retainer tube 11, so that water in the container 5 may iind its way into the wick, where it will be transferred to the applicator end of the wick, by capillary attraction.

As shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the upper tubular member 8 is provided with a shoulder 13 against which the gasket 14 rests, the gasket engaging the end of the container 5, providing a fluid-tight connection between the upper tubular member 8 and body portion or container 5 A cap indicated at 15 is adapted to be fitted over the reduced end 9 of the upper tubular member, to retain the wick in a moist condition for ready use in applying moisture to the glued surfaces of envelopes, stamps or the like.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a moisture applicator wherein the wick will be securely held against displacement when it is moved under pressure, over a glued surface, which under normal conditions would tend to pull the Wick from the applicator.

lt will further be seen that by removing the upper tubular member 8 from the container 5, which is accomplished by merely unscrewing the upper tubular member from the container 5, a substantial portion of the wick is exposed so that it may be readily gripped and removed or pulled outwardly, should it be desired to expose a greater portion of the wick at the applicator end of the device.

It will also be noted that the wick may be readily removed when itis desired to replenish the water supply in the container 5, the wick acting as means to prevent the water from passing into the upper tubular member 8, except through the wick due to capillary attraction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A moisture applicator of the type described, comprising a liquid container having a threaded mouth, an upper tubular member threaded on the container, a wick retainer tube mounted within said container with the lower end thereof resting on the bottom of the container, the upper end of the retainer tube terminating at the mouth of the container and held in position in contact therewith, said wick retainer tube having openings elongated longitudinally thereof, disposed in the wall of the tube extending from points adjacent to the lower end 0f the retainer tube and terminating at points spaced appreciable distances from the upper end of the tube, through which liquid enters said wick retainer tube, a wick circular in cross section held within the tubular wick retainer tube, a substantial length of the wick being held in contact with the retainer tube, one end of said wick extending through and beyond the end of said upper tubular member providing an applicator, and a cap fitted over the tubular member closing the end of said tubular member protecting said applicator.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,823 Bush Sept. 4, 1888 1,223,996 Mather Apr. 24, 1917 1,287,246 Croaker Dec. l0. 1918 1,939,707 Kerber Dec. 19, 1933 2,025,286 Hutchison et al Dec. 24, 1935- 2,222,290 Fougera Nov. 19. 1940 

